Damian Lillard scored 30 points, and Al-Farouq Aminu added a season-high 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied for a 115-108 victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
The Trail Blazers closed the game on a 17-3 run to snap a six-game losing streak in its series with the Nuggets and register their ninth win in the last 11 games.
Gary Harris scored 18 points to lead Denver, which won the season series with Portland 3-1.
The Nuggets played without center Nikola Jokic, forward Paul Millsap and guard Jamal Murray, all given the night off for rest.
CJ McCollum made his return to the Portland lineup after missing 10 games with a knee injury. McCollum collected nine points, six rebounds and six assists in 25 minutes.
Curry and Aminu each scored 11 points to help stake Portland to a 60-49 lead at halftime. Trey Lyles and Harris each had 10 points for Denver.
The Nuggets roared back to tie it at 75-75 on a 3-pointer by Monte Morris late in the third quarter. The Blazers took an 86-81 edge into the final period.
Denver took a 93-92 lead on a pair of free throws by Torrey Craig with 8:34 remaining. Lillard's driving left-handed layup pushed Portland back in front 98-97 with 6:32 left. Malik Beasley hit 1 of 2 at the line to cap an 8-0 Nuggets run for a 105-98 lead with 4:35 to play.
Lillard sank three free throws to cut it to 105-101 with 3:55 to go. After an Enes Kanter free throw, Aminu tipped in a rebound to get within 105-104 with 3:11 left.
Lillard's 3-pointer then gave Portland a 107-106 lead, and Kanter added a layup before Aminu and Evan Turner combined to make three free throws to make it 112-106 with 1:25 left.
The Nuggets got no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Denver jumped out to a 12-4 lead, but Portland used a 15-1 run to go ahead 19-13. The Blazers carried a 29-25 advantage into the second quarter.
Portland extended the margin to 56-42, then settled for an 11-point lead at the half.
--Field Level Media
Denver | Portland | |
Gary Harris 18 | Scoring | Damian Lillard 30 |
Mason Plumlee 6 | Assists | CJ McCollum 6 |
Mason Plumlee 11 | Rebounds | Enes Kanter 13 |
Monte Morris 4 | Free Throws Made | Damian Lillard 7 |
Gary Harris 2 | Steals | Evan Turner 2 |
Mason Plumlee 3 | Blocks | Zach Collins 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Denver | 108 | 44.2 | 13-33 | 11-20 | 24 | 42 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
Portland | 115 | 46.1 | 9-28 | 24-29 | 22 | 58 | 5 | 5 | 16 |